Related Experiment Videos
Unifocal bone paracoccidioidomycosis, Brazil
Bruna Correa-de-Castro1, Mauricio A Pompilio, Danilo N Odashiro
1Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil. brunacorreac@hotmail.com
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|March 10, 2012
Summary
A rare case of tibial paracoccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection, presented as an osteolytic bone lesion in a Brazilian man. Effective treatment with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim led to bone healing and clinical improvement.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection endemic to Latin America, primarily caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
- Osseous involvement is a known manifestation, but unifocal tibial lesions are uncommon.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male presented with an osteolytic lesion in the middle third of the tibia.
- Radiographic imaging revealed a distinct bone lesion.
- Histopathologic analysis confirmed the presence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
Findings:
- The patient was treated with a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
- Significant clinical improvement was observed within three months of treatment initiation.
- Complete bone healing of the tibial lesion was evident ten months post-treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering paracoccidioidomycosis in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic bone lesions in endemic regions.
- Successful management with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole demonstrates its efficacy in treating tibial osseous paracoccidioidomycosis.
- Further research into the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis bone infections is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
01:15Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
01:26Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
01:29Bone Disorders
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:27Compact Bone
Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...